XLRI to open India's first finishing school for automobile design and management

NEW DELHI: The Xavier School of Management (XLRI) has announced the establishment of the Indian School for Design of Automobiles (INDEA), the country's first dedicated finishing school for automobile design, aiming to address the growing need for skilled professionals in the sector.

The institute said that INDEA will provide a range of programmes, including Automobile Design and Management, refresher courses for practising designers, and inductions for chief experience officers (CXOs). The annual calendar will also include seminars, masterclasses, and workshops.

The Master's in Automobile Design and Management is a one-year postgraduate programme that will admit 20-25 students annually from various graduate schools through a screening process. The curriculum details are currently being finalised, and the school is expected to be operational by the end of 2025.

Speaking at the event, an XLRI alumnus, Avik Chattopadhyay, said, “The Indian automobile industry is one of the strongest pillars of the Indian economy. It is poised for its next phase of growth post-pandemic with factors like clean energy, evolving consumer behaviour and greater focus on circular- sustainability”.

INDEA is designed to promote a new generation of automobile designers and design managers who understand the intricacies of the industry and can create vehicles that cater to evolving consumer preferences and sustainability needs, he further said.

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XLRI Delhi-NCR: INDEA's focus

As per the official press release, the INDEA's core principles will focus on three pillars including a balance of intuition and industrial knowledge, a rich industry interface and exposure to global thought and application.

Speaking on the occasion, the director of XLRI Delhi-NCR campus, KS Casimir, said, “We felt the acute need to support India’s ambitions to be a design hub. Our effort with ‘Indian School for Design of Automobiles’ is to bridge the gap for skilled designers who also understand the nuances of management and customer preferences creating well-rounded professionals for the Indian Automotive industry.”

INDEA will also be guided by mentors including, automotive journalist, Gautam Sen; ex-judge of the Supreme Court of India, Justice Indira Banerjee; and ex-director of engineering at Maruti Suzuki India Limited, IV Rao.